Switch mechanism including quick detachable electrical connector means

ABSTRACT

A device including an electric connector for insertion of the bare end of a cable which is held in contact position therein by a pre-biased leaf spring.

Unitefi States Patentv 1 [111 3,729,612

Schmale 1 Apr. 24, 1973 i5 1 SWITCH MECHANISM INCLUDING 339/95 D QUICKDETACHABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS [56] References Cited ['75]Inventor: Johannes Schmale, Ludenscheid, UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany2,795,677 6/1957 Slater ..200/l66 CT [73] Assignee: Brown, Boveri & Cie.A. G., Ma 3,315,052 4/]967 Goto ..200/166 CT X heim German 2,705,7854/[955 Benander ..200/l66 CT y 3,482,064 l2/l969 Osika. ....2()O/l66 CTX [22] Filed; Oct. 18, 1971 2,738,482 3/1956 Benander ..200/166 CT [21]Appl- N05 190,189 Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Att0rneyErwin Salzer [30]Foreign Application Priority Data [57.] ABSTRACT Octv 3], i970 Germany..P 20 53 595.9

A device including an electrlc connector for insertion of the bare endof a cable which is held in contact iii}K3853...Jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjijilfii$355.35???3 widowed"Wm-biased'wfspring-[58] Field of Search ..200/166 CT; 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PatentedApril 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented April '24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet,2

SWITCH MECHANISM INCLUDING QUICK DETACHABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is toimprove electric connectors for conductors or cables of the solderlesstype, not requiring clamping screws for achieving the required contactpressure, but achieving such pressure solely by resilient or springmeans. A connector of this description is disclosed in US. Pat. No.2,944,242. This connector includes a clamping spring and a socket orbase the manufacture of which are relatively costly, and this appliesalso to the process of assembling the constituent parts of the connectordisclosed in the above patent.

The present connectors and electric devices provided with suchconnectors are not subject to the drawbacks and limitations ofcomparable prior art connec tors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to the class ofdevices including a conductor-engaging conductive abutment, i.e., aconductive abutment intended to be engaged by the bare end of a cable orwire, a resilient pressure member for clamping the bare end of aconductor or wire against said abutment, and a base supporting saidabutment and said pressure member. In devices of this description thebase has recesses for insertion of the conductor or cable and recessesfor insertion of a tool, e.g., of a screw driver, into it, by which toolthe pressure member is separated from the abutment in order to allowinsertion of the bare end of a cable or wire into the connector, or inorder to allow removal of the bare end of a cable or wire from theconnector.

In devices according to the present invention the pressure member isformed by a substantially flat leaf spring having a conductor-engagingfront end, a rear end having a sharp bend clamped against, and firmlyheld in by position by, said base, said base defining a pair ofleaf-spring-engaging projections positioned at opposite sides of saidleaf-spring at points intermediate said front end and said rear endthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-section along II ofFIG. 3 of an electric switch having connector means embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along 11-" of FIG. 3 of the same electricswitch as that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plane view of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;and

FIG. 4 illustrates by way of a cross-section of the structure of FIG. 3the insertion of leaf-springs into the base or frame of the switch.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The switch illustrated in FIGS. 1 to4 includes a base or frame 1 having a median plane. A cam-type rotarycontact-operating shaft 2 is arranged above and supported by base 1. Theaxis of rotation of cam shaft 2 is arranged in the median plane ofbase 1. Reference numeral 4 has been applied to indicate a fixed contactand reference numeral 5 has been applied to indicate a movable contactseparable from fixed contact 4 and adapted to engage fixed contact 4.Resilient movable contact 5 is arranged to be operated by cam shaft 2.Reference numeral 3 has been applied to indicate each of a pair ofconductor-engaging or cable-engaging conductive abutrnents. Abutments 3are arranged at opposite sides of the median plane of base 1 immediatelyadjacent parallel opposite edges thereof. The upper abutment 3 of FIGS.1 and 2 is provided with a cantilever-like projection enclosing a rightangle with the abutment 3 proper and supporting fixed contact 4. Thelower abutment 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and movable contact 5 are formed by anintegral part. Reference numeral 21 has been applied to indicate aconductor or insulated cable having a bare end engaging one of abutments3 and clamped by a leaf-spring 6 against said abutment. In a likefashion as the lower abutment 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is engaged by the bareend of an insulated cable 21, the upper abutment 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 maybe engaged by the bare end of an insulated cable (not shown).

Abutments 3 are each arranged in a recess or chamber 7 of base 1 andfirmly positioned therein by cooperating interlock means, thusprecluding any movement of abutrnents 3 in a direction at right anglesto the general plane of base 1 or in a direction of the bare end ofcable 21. According to FIG. 1 one of abutments 3 is provided with atongue 15 arranged behind an overhanging portion 17 of base 1. As shownin FIG. 2 another of abutrnents 3 is provided with an aperture 16engaged-by a projection 18 of base 1. Elements 15,17 and 16,18 forminterlocks precluding unintentional movement of abutrnents 3 relative tobase 1. Reference numeral 8 has been applied to indicate grooves formedin base 1 for receiving substantially flat leaf-springs 6. The ends ofgrooves 8 remote from the median plane of base 1 communicate withrecesses or chambers 7 for abutrnents 3. The front ends of leafsprings 6are intended to engage the bare ends of conductors such as the bare endof cable 21 and clamp the same against abutrnents 3. Reference numerals9 and 10 have been applied to indicate leaf-spring-engaging projectionsformed by base 1. Projections 9 are arranged close to the front ends ofleaf-springs 6 engaging conductors such as cable 21. Projections 10 arearranged substantially midway between the front ends and the rear endsof leaf-springs 6. Projections 9 and 10 are positioned on opposite sidesof leaf-springs 6. Projections 9 are arranged to engage the lower sidesor lower surfaces of leaf-springs 6 in the absence of a con ductor orcable 21 engaging the respective abutment 3. This is shown in the upperportion of FIG. 2. Projections 10 are arranged to engage the upper sidesor upper surfaces of leaf-springs 6 in the presence of a conductor orcable 21 engaging the respective abutment 3. This is shown in the lowerportion of FIG. 1. The rear ends of leaf-springs 6 have a sharp bend 12,e.g., a bend 12 slightly less than deg. which is clamped against andfirmly held in position by base 1. To this end the lowest portion 11 ofbase 1 is provided with grooves 13 receiving the bend rear ends 12 ofleafsprings 6.

It will be apparent from the upper portion of FIG. 2 that in the absenceof a conductor 21 engaging abutment 3 both projections 9 and 10 engageleaf-spring 6 and thus impart a pre-bias to the leaf-spring. The bias ofleafspring 6 is increased upon insertion of a bare cable betweenabutment 3 and the front end of leafspring 6. The sharp bends 12 at therear ends of leafsprings 6 extend preferably over the entire width ofleaf-spring 6.

As shown in FIG. 3 leaf-springs 6 may be provided with at least one slot14 extending in a direction generally longitudinally of leaf-springs 6and imparting fork-shape to the latter.

Reference numeral 19 has been applied to indicate recesses orpassageways for inserting the bare ends of cables 21 into base 1, andreference numeral 20 has been applied to indicate recesses orpassageways intended for insertion of a tool 22, e.g., a screw driver,into base 1 to compress leaf-springs 6 to separate the front endsthereof from abutments 3 in order to insert a conductor 21 or in orderto remove a conductor 21 from base 1. It will be noted that the frontends of leafsprings 6 enclose acute angles with the conductors 21 beingclamped against abutments 3. The arrangement of leaf-springs 6 shownjnthe drawings provides sufficient contact pressure and does not call forthe presence of sharp edges on the front ends of leaf springs 6.

In FIG. 4 reference character 23 has been applied to indicate two arrowsdiagrammatically representing pressure tools for inserting the rear endsof leaf-springs 6 into base 1, i.e., into the aforementioned grooves 13thereof. Pressure tools 23 engage leaf-springs 6 at points close to thebent portions 12 thereof. The portion or projection 11 of base 1 isprovided with slots 24 intended for insertion of pressure tools 23.

The aforementioned recesses 19 and 20 are oriented substantially atright angles to the general plane of base 1 and leaf-springs 6 areslanted relative to said plane and diverge from the median plane of base1.

It will be apparent that the electric switch illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4is but one of many possible embodiments of this invention which is, inessence, a new and improved electrical connector.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric device including a conductor-engaging conductiveabutment, a resilient pressure member for clamping the bare end of aconductor against said abutment and a base supporting said abutment andsaid pressure member and having recesses for insertion of said conductorand for insertion of a tool for separating said pressure member fromsaid abutment wherein said pressure member is formed by a substantiallyflat leafspring having a conductor-engaging front end, a rear end havinga sharp bend clamped against and firmly held in position by said base,said base defining a pair of leaf-spring-engaging projections positionedat opposite sides of said leaf-spring at points intermediate said frontend and said rear end thereof, one of said pair of projection beingarranged to engage one side of said leaf-spring and the other of saidpair of projections being arranged to engage the other side of saidleafspring.

2. Am electric device as specified in claim 1 wherein said sharp bend atsaid rear end of said leafspring extends over the entire width of saidleaf-spring.

3. An electric device as specified in claim 1 wherein said leaf-springis provided with at least one slot extending in a directionlongitudinally of said leaf-spring imparting fork-shape to saidleaf-spring.

4. An electric device as specified in claim 1 wherein said abutment hasa contact-forming projection extending substantially at right anglesfrom said abutment.

S. An electric device as specified in claim 1 wherein said abutment andsaid base are provided with a cooperating projection and recess formingan interlock precluding any movement of said abutment relative to saidbase in a direction substantially at right angles to the general planedefined by said base.

6. An electric switch including a. a base having a median plane;

b. a pair of cooperating relatively movable contacts supported by saidbase; and c. a pair of electrical connectors supported by said base eachincluding a conductor-engaging conductive abutment conductivelyconnected to one of said pair of contacts, a pressure member formed by asubstantially fiat leaf spring having a conductor-engaging front end, arear end arranged substantially in said median plane of said base andhaving a sharp bend'clamped against and firmly held in position'by saidbase, said base having a first recess adjacent said abutment of each ofsaid pair of electrical connectors for insertion of the end of aconductor into said base, said base further having a second recesssituated between said front end and said rear end of said leaf-spring ofeach of said pair of electrical connectors allowing compression thereofby means of a tool, and said base further defining two pairs ofleaf-spring-engaging projections, one of each of said pairs ofleafspring-engaging projections being arranged to one side ofsaidleaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectorsand theother of each of said pairs of projections being arranged at the side ofsaid leaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectors oppositeto said one side thereof. 7. An electric switch as specified in claim 6wherein a rotary contact-operating cam is arranged above said base withthe axis of rotation arranged in said median plane thereof; wherein eachof said pair of electrical connectors is arranged to opposite sides ofsaid median plane of said base immediately adjacent to opposite edges ofsaid base; wherein I said first recess and said second recess for eachof said pair of electrical connectors is oriented substantially at rightangles to the general plane of said base; and wherein said leaf-springof each of said pair of electrical connectors is slanted relative tosaid general plane of said base and diverging fromsaid median planethereof.

1. An electric device including a conductor-engaging conductiveabutment, a resilient pressure member for clamping the bare end of aconductor against said abutment and a base supporting said abutment andsaid pressure member and having recesses for insertion of said conductorand for insertion of a tool for separating said pressure member fromsaid abutment wherein said pressure member is formed by a substantiallyflat leaf-spring having a conductor-engaging front end, a rear endhaving a sharp bend clamped against and firmly held in position by saidbase, said base defining a pair of leaf-spring-engaging projectionspositioned at opposite sides of said leaf-spring at points intermediatesaid front end and said rear end thereof, one of said pair ofprojections being arranged to engage one side of said leaf-spring andthe other of said pair of projections being arranged to engage the otherside of said leaf-spring.
 2. An electric device as specified in claim 1wherein said sharp bend at said rear end of said leaf-spring extendsover the entire width of said leaf-spring.
 3. An electric device asspecified in claim 1 wherein said leaf-spring is provided with at leastone slot extending in a direction longitudinally of said leaf-springimparting fork-shape to said leaf-spring.
 4. An electric device asspecified in claim 1 wherein said abutment has a contact-formingprojection extending substantially at right angles from said abutment.5. An electric device as specified in claim 1 wherein said abutment andsaid base are provided with a cooperating projection and recess formingan interlock precluding any movement of said abutment relative to saidbase in a direction substantially at right angles to the general planedefined by said base.
 6. An electric switch including a. a base having amedian plane; b. a pair of cooperating relatively movable contactssupported by said base; and c. a pair of electrical connectors supportedby said base each including a conductor-engaging conductive abutmentconductively connected to one of said pair of contacts, a pressuremember formed by a substantially flat leaf spring having aconductor-engaging front end, a rear end arranged substantially in saidmedian plane of said base and having a sharp bend clamped against andfirmly held in position by said base, said base having a first recessadjacent said abutment of each of said pair of electrical connectors forinsertion of the end of a conductor into said base, said base furtherhaving a second recess situated between said front end and said rear endof said leaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectorsallowing compression thereof by means of a tool, and said base furtherdefining two pairs of leaf-spring-engaging projections, one of each ofsaid pairs of leaf-spring-engaging projections being arranged to oNeside of said leaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectorsand the other of each of said pairs of projections being arranged at theside of said leaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectorsopposite to said one side thereof.
 7. An electric switch as specified inclaim 6 wherein a rotary contact-operating cam is arranged above saidbase with the axis of rotation arranged in said median plane thereof;wherein each of said pair of electrical connectors is arranged toopposite sides of said median plane of said base immediately adjacent toopposite edges of said base; wherein said first recess and said secondrecess for each of said pair of electrical connectors is orientedsubstantially at right angles to the general plane of said base; andwherein said leaf-spring of each of said pair of electrical connectorsis slanted relative to said general plane of said base and divergingfrom said median plane thereof.